[ EDITORIAL ]

Mexico Vs. Plant City: Strawberry-Capital Coup

Published: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 12:05 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 12:05 a.m.

A store in the nation's largest grocery chain is located in the strawberry capital of the world. The other day, that store — the Plant City Wal-Mart — carried fresh strawberries on its shelves.

How far did the strawberries have to be transported to the store, a bicycle's ride from outer Plant City, say, a mile or two?

No, the distance traveled over road by the strawberries to the Plant City Wal-Mart was some 2,000 miles from the agricultural fields of Mexico.

Wal-Mart had an explanation, reported The Ledger's Kevin Bouffard in an article Monday.

"We typically only bring non-Florida berries into Florida when demand increases beyond the supply of local growers," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Danit Marquardt. "Additionally, we have supported our Florida growers this season by sourcing hundreds of thousands of cases of Florida-grown strawberries for Wal-Mart stores in 15 other states."

The matter of a strawberry-supply problem in Florida does not sound right to those who do the supplying.

Indeed, they would be happy to swamp Wal-Mart and others stores with strawberries, because their supply houses have been bursting at the seams since January. That month is traditionally slow for sales, which means availability is plentiful.

What's more, says Ted Campbell, Florida strawberry land is 11,000 acres. That is an increase over the 9,900 acres in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's estimate for 2010-2011. That is also an increase of 55 percent increase over 10 years ago. Campbell is executive director for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Dover.

FLORIDA OVERSUPPLY

Production in Florida has been robust and has not been diminished by freezes.

With more land in production and a hardy growing season, the oversupply has pushed down prices, which makes the Mexican strawberries in Plant City even more perplexing. The wholesale price was $26 per flat in early December, then $15 per flat in early January. In recent weeks the wholesale price has run from $5.90 per flat to $6.90 per flat.

Local growers are incensed and insulted.

All members of the Grower's Association's board were "appalled and disgusted. It was a complete slap in the face," said Andy McDonald. He is president of the board and a grower in Plant City.

"It was an insult to the very industry in Plant City to see strawberries from another country on the shelves at the peak of Florida production," said Carl Grooms, another grower in Plant City. "Every spot on the shelf taken by a foreign product takes away from a domestic product."

<p>A store in the nation's largest grocery chain is located in the strawberry capital of the world. The other day, that store — the Plant City Wal-Mart — carried fresh strawberries on its shelves.</p><p>How far did the strawberries have to be transported to the store, a bicycle's ride from outer Plant City, say, a mile or two?</p><p>No, the distance traveled over road by the strawberries to the Plant City Wal-Mart was some 2,000 miles from the agricultural fields of Mexico.</p><p>Wal-Mart had an explanation, reported The Ledger's Kevin Bouffard in an article Monday.</p><p>"We typically only bring non-Florida berries into Florida when demand increases beyond the supply of local growers," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Danit Marquardt. "Additionally, we have supported our Florida growers this season by sourcing hundreds of thousands of cases of Florida-grown strawberries for Wal-Mart stores in 15 other states."</p><p>The matter of a strawberry-supply problem in Florida does not sound right to those who do the supplying.</p><p>Indeed, they would be happy to swamp Wal-Mart and others stores with strawberries, because their supply houses have been bursting at the seams since January. That month is traditionally slow for sales, which means availability is plentiful.</p><p>What's more, says Ted Campbell, Florida strawberry land is 11,000 acres. That is an increase over the 9,900 acres in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's estimate for 2010-2011. That is also an increase of 55 percent increase over 10 years ago. Campbell is executive director for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Dover.</p><p> </p><p><b>FLORIDA OVERSUPPLY</b></p><p>Production in Florida has been robust and has not been diminished by freezes.</p><p>With more land in production and a hardy growing season, the oversupply has pushed down prices, which makes the Mexican strawberries in Plant City even more perplexing. The wholesale price was $26 per flat in early December, then $15 per flat in early January. In recent weeks the wholesale price has run from $5.90 per flat to $6.90 per flat.</p><p>Local growers are incensed and insulted.</p><p>All members of the Grower's Association's board were "appalled and disgusted. It was a complete slap in the face," said Andy McDonald. He is president of the board and a grower in Plant City.</p><p>"It was an insult to the very industry in Plant City to see strawberries from another country on the shelves at the peak of Florida production," said Carl Grooms, another grower in Plant City. "Every spot on the shelf taken by a foreign product takes away from a domestic product."</p><p>They said it.</p>